editorNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94The latest podcasts and commentary from KMUW - Wichita 89.1 FM.NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Jeremy BernfeldTue, 15 Nov 2016 04:58:22 +0000Jeremy Bernfeldhttp://kmuw.org
Jeremy Bernfeld The number of small farms in the U.S. is growing, but “large farms” are increasingly important to our food system. Today, what researchers call “large farms” make up just 4 percent of the total number of U.S. farms, but they produce more than half of the country’s agricultural goods. And a new study by the Department of Agriculture found the number of large farms more than doubled during a recent two-decade period. The number of mid-sized farms is on the decline. Chris Burns worked on the report. “There’s been a change in agriculture, for sure," Burns says. "More production is occurring on large farms. Advances in technology have led to more production occurring there because they have cost efficiencies.” Advances in technology, like expensive combines and data analytics, mean large farms can churn out more profit per acre. That means many farmers feel the pressure to grow their operations, or to drop out altogether. Large Farms Are More Important Than Everhttp://kmuw.org/post/large-farms-are-more-important-ever
75322 as http://kmuw.orgTue, 08 Nov 2016 22:08:05 +0000Large Farms Are More Important Than EverJeremy BernfeldLow prices mean many farmers are facing tough times. As Harvest Public Media’s Jeremy Bernfeld explains, farmers think that’s not likely to let up. Bumper harvest after bumper harvest has plunged prices for important crops like corn and soybeans. Jim Mintert is a professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University. In a recent survey, his team found the vast majority of farmers expect bad financial times over the next year. More than a quarter said they expect prices to dip below what it takes to break even. “People that think that are really pulling back," Mintert says. "They’ve really battened down the hatches and are trying to hold back on every possible expenditure if you think that’s a likelihood.” If farmers cut back on buying equipment or expensive seeds and fertilizers, Mintert says the rural economy could take a hit. Farmers Pessimistic About Ag Economyhttp://kmuw.org/post/farmers-pessimistic-about-ag-economy
75155 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 07 Nov 2016 11:00:00 +0000Farmers Pessimistic About Ag EconomyJeremy BernfeldThis year will be a tight one financially for most farmers. As Harvest Public Media’s Jeremy Bernfeld reports, the Agriculture Department is forecasting a drop in farm income for the third straight year. Farmers expect another record harvest for corn and soybeans, the country’s most important crops. That oversupply is pushing down prices, hurting a farmer’s bottom line. The USDA expects a nearly 12 percent cut in net farm income compared to last year. That would put net farm income at its lowest point since 2009. With prices low, farmers aren't expected to spend on equipment and machinery. That, in turn, could put the rural economy at risk. One bright spot for farmers: The USDA expects government payments to farmers to increase nearly 25 percent this year, to more than $13 billion. Farm Income Forecast To Drop, Againhttp://kmuw.org/post/farm-income-forecast-drop-again
72555 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 05 Sep 2016 10:00:00 +0000Farm Income Forecast To Drop, AgainJeremy BernfeldKansas farmers may be facing some of toughest financial times they have experienced in three decades. As Harvest Public Media’s Jeremy Bernfeld reports, that could put a hit on the economy. The average net farm income in Kansas plummeted last year to just over $4,500. That’s a year-over-year drop of 96 percent, according to a report by the Kansas Farm Management Association. Farmers are getting low prices for important crops like corn, soybeans, wheat and cattle, thanks to oversupply. That’s leaving them with less money to spend on their business, and on most everything else. “Right now the main thing is just going to be focusing on being a low-cost producer and weathering the storm for the next couple of years,” says Elizabeth Yeager, an agricultural economist from K-State. The agriculture industry accounts for 43 percent of the Kansas economy, according to the state Agriculture Department. Net Farm Income Plummets For Kansas Farmershttp://kmuw.org/post/net-farm-income-plummets-kansas-farmers
69080 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 20 Jun 2016 15:58:34 +0000Net Farm Income Plummets For Kansas FarmersJeremy BernfeldThe Environmental Protection Agency visited Midwest farm country yesterday for a hearing on ethanol policy in Kansas City. The EPA controls how much ethanol has to be blended into our fuel supply by oil refiners. And the agency is trying to thread a very tricky needle. Oil companies say we need less ethanol because the environmental benefits are overblown and we’re using less gas anyway. Farmers want more ethanol to help prices for corn and soybeans. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts is part of the pro-ethanol crowd. “It’s something that helps us become less reliant on foreign fuel, it’s good for the environment, and it’s also something that helps us create jobs in rural America," he said at Thursday's hearing. The EPA’s ethanol proposal for the next two years includes modest increases, though at levels far below what Congress originally set out. EPA Heads To Midwest For Ethanol Discussionhttp://kmuw.org/post/epa-heads-midwest-ethanol-discussion
68740 as http://kmuw.orgFri, 10 Jun 2016 20:28:46 +0000EPA Heads To Midwest For Ethanol DiscussionJeremy BernfeldThe number of acres worldwide used to grow genetically engineered crops declined for the first time last year, according to a new report. When we talk genetically engineered (GE) crops, we’re mostly talking corn, soybeans and cotton. The share of land worldwide dedicated to planting GE crops has shown steady growth over the last 20 years. But buying the latest technology is expensive. When prices were good, farmers bought genetically engineered seeds. Now, as Mark Johnson from Iowa State University Extension says, grain prices are down worldwide. “But now that we’ve got more traditional grain prices, it’s hard to pay for all that," Johnson says. "It’s like, I don’t have to have a Cadillac.” If crop prices bounce back, expect to see more farmers once again buying, and planting GE. Acres Of GMO Crops On The Declinehttp://kmuw.org/post/acres-gmo-crops-decline
66539 as http://kmuw.orgWed, 20 Apr 2016 20:27:55 +0000Acres Of GMO Crops On The DeclineJeremy BernfeldRegulators are taking aim at foodborne illnesses caused by salmonella. Harvest Public Media’s Jeremy Bernfeld reports on new food safety rules released last Thursday. The Department of Agriculture has been able to cut the amount of salmonella found on whole chickens. Now it’s putting in place stricter limits on the amount of bacteria it will allow on cut-up chicken parts and on ground chicken and turkey. “I think it makes the industry look at things in a different way and say we’ve made progress in one aspect of the production and processing, now we need to make progress in some of these other areas," says James Dickson, who studies food safety at Iowa State University. The new rules don’t target specific strains of salmonella known to cause a large share of problems. The bacteria is estimated to cause about a million cases of illness in the U.S. each year. New Rules For Salmonella In Poultryhttp://kmuw.org/post/new-rules-salmonella-poultry
63166 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 08 Feb 2016 19:52:25 +0000New Rules For Salmonella In PoultryJeremy BernfeldFarmers across the Midwest are planting less wheat. Harvest Public Media’s Jeremy Bernfeld explains why. Worries about selling their wheat on the global market pushed U-S farmers to plant millions of fewer acres of wheat over the last two years. That’s according to a new government report. Dan O’Brien, an economist at Kansas State University, says that has a lot to do with big supplies and a strong dollar. “In the face of low profitability we’re scaling back production a little bit and starting the process, eventually, of moving towards lower supplies and higher prices," O'Brien says. But that could take years. In the meantime, the wheat belt may keep shrinking as farmers switch to planting more corn. Farmers Plant Less Wheat On Export Worrieshttp://kmuw.org/post/farmers-plant-less-wheat-export-worries
62117 as http://kmuw.orgSun, 17 Jan 2016 22:35:00 +0000Farmers Plant Less Wheat On Export WorriesJeremy BernfeldCanada and Mexico are threatening to impose tariffs on more than one billion dollars worth of U.S. goods. As Harvest Public Media’s Jeremy Bernfeld reports, it’s in retaliation for labels on meat at the grocery store. Your beef, pork and chicken has a little label on it that says where the animal it came from was born, raised and slaughtered. And Canada and Mexico blame that little label for a drop in demand for their products. “Because there’s additional steps those international suppliers have to follow, they end up receiving a lower price for their product than their domestic counterpart," says Veronica Nie, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation. That’s why the World Trade Organization announced Monday that the two countries can start charging an import tax for U.S. goods. It’s not clear what products could be hit by the tariffs. But Mexico and Canada are the U.S.’s second- and third-largest trading partners. WTO: Billions In Tariffs For Country-Of-Origin Labeling Mandatehttp://kmuw.org/post/wto-billions-tariffs-country-origin-labeling-mandate
60592 as http://kmuw.orgTue, 08 Dec 2015 18:16:33 +0000WTO: Billions In Tariffs For Country-Of-Origin Labeling MandateJeremy BernfeldAs Midwest farmers parse the details of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, farm groups and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are urging Congress to ratify it. Groups of corn growers and soybean farmers love the TPP. They say it will expand markets for U.S. goods. Agriculture Department official Phil Karsting says the agreement also sets rules and standards for farm products from the U.S. and 11 other countries. “That’s what this is really about, is setting a framework globally so that our producers know what to expect so that they can go after markets. And if given that opportunity they’re innovative enough and efficient enough that they can do well at it," Karsting says. Some farmers oppose the trade pact. They say it increases competition domestically and that it’s designed to particularly benefit big companies. Congress has yet to approve the deal. Farm Groups, USDA Urge Support For TPPhttp://kmuw.org/post/farm-groups-usda-urge-support-tpp
59410 as http://kmuw.orgThu, 12 Nov 2015 21:00:00 +0000Farm Groups, USDA Urge Support For TPPJeremy Bernfeld During the Chinese President's tour of the U.S. last week, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran said he wanted to make it easier for Midwest farmers to export their crops to China. As Harvest Public Media’s Jeremy Bernfeld reports, genetically modified crops have been a sticking point in the past. A bipartisan list of 42 U.S. Senators sent a letter to President Obama urging him to discuss the approval of biotech crops with Chinese President Shee-Jin-Ping. China is one of the most important markets for U.S. farmers. But regulators there have rejected shipments of U.S. corn because they contained genetically modified varieties they haven’t approved. Many of the largest American farm organizations want the Obama Administration to pressure China to speed up its approval process and streamline trade. Senators Urge Biotech Talks With Chinahttp://kmuw.org/post/senators-urge-biotech-talks-china
57231 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 28 Sep 2015 10:00:00 +0000Senators Urge Biotech Talks With ChinaJeremy Bernfeld One of the nation’s largest farm groups is warning of a downturn in the rural economy. Harvest Public Media’s Jeremy Bernfeld has more. Prices for the Midwest’s top commodities like corn and soybeans have been sliding, and forecasts for farm profits are weak. “What that means is that farmers are going to be facing a lot of financial stress," says National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson. "Loans are going to be in jeopardy. Farmers may not get operating loans, they may not be able to repay operating loans from this year." Beginning farmers--and farmers with lots of debt--are particularly vulnerable to a downswing. The Farmers Union wants the Agriculture Department to prepare for an influx of farmers in need of loans and more farmers looking for debt relief. Farmers Union Warns Of Downturnhttp://kmuw.org/post/farmers-union-warns-downturn
56238 as http://kmuw.orgTue, 08 Sep 2015 10:00:00 +0000Farmers Union Warns Of DownturnJeremy BernfeldFarmers could be temporarily prohibited from applying pesticides if new proposed environmental regulations are adopted. Harvest Public Media’s Jeremy Bernfeld reports on new efforts to protect bees. In Effort To Protect Bees, EPA Could Restrict Hundreds Of Pesticideshttp://kmuw.org/post/effort-protect-bees-epa-could-restrict-hundreds-pesticides
52514 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 15 Jun 2015 20:46:07 +0000In Effort To Protect Bees, EPA Could Restrict Hundreds Of PesticidesJeremy BernfeldThe House on Wednesday passed a new five-year compromise farm bill. The bill now moves to the Senate for a vote.The farm bill — the result of a two-year-long legislative saga — remains massive. The bill contains about $500 billion in funding, most of which is pegged to the food stamp program, officially called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).But the farm bill, as you might expect, also charts agricultural policy for the nation's farmers. And the farm programs within this farm bill have been hotly contested.Altering The Farm Safety Net: Perhaps the most significant change to agricultural policy this farm bill would make is ending the subsidy known as direct payments – government payments to farmers based only on the number of acres of farmland they own, not on the condition of their crop. Instead, crop insurance will become the bedrock of the federal farm safety net.The new bill would expand crop insurance and continue to subsidize farmers' plans. Under the program,Farm Bill Charts New Course For Nation's Farmershttp://kmuw.org/post/farm-bill-charts-new-course-nations-farmers
29525 as http://kmuw.orgWed, 29 Jan 2014 17:43:00 +0000Farm Bill Charts New Course For Nation's FarmersJeremy BernfeldThe meat on your dinner table probably didn't come from a happy little cow that lived a wondrous life out on rolling green hills. It probably also wasn't produced by a robot animal killer hired by an evil cabal of monocle-wearing industrialists.Truth is, the meat industry is complicated, and it's impossible to understand without a whole lot of context. That's where Maureen Ogle comes in. She's a historian and the author of In Meat We Trust: An Unexpected History of Carnivore America.Ogle's book examines the pipeline that meat takes today from field to table by trying to understand its roots. She starts all the way back in Colonial America, when settlers found so much available land that they were able to raise livestock they could never have afforded in Europe. Meat, Ogle writes, became a status symbol in early America.Much has been made of the ugly details of the modern meat industry, from Upton Sinclair's The Jungle to Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma to various exposes and'In Meat We Trust' Argues We Got The Meat Industry We Asked Forhttp://kmuw.org/post/meat-we-trust-argues-we-got-meat-industry-we-asked
27362 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 09 Dec 2013 17:21:00 +0000'In Meat We Trust' Argues We Got The Meat Industry We Asked ForJeremy BernfeldTranscript STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: It's MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. Good morning. I'm Steve Inskeep.DAVID GREENE, HOST: And I'm David Greene.Farmers and ranchers across this country expected to start the year with a new farm bill in place. This is an important piece of legislation to many people. It sets agricultural policy for the next five years.When House and Senate negotiators were working feverishly over the weekend to come to a fiscal cliff deal, word leaked that the Agriculture Committees had finally come to an agreement on new farm legislation. But the larger fiscal cliff deal merely extended parts of a farm bill that expired in October.Jeremy Bernfeld of member station KCUR in Kansas City reports that farmers are frustrated.JEREMY BERNFELD, BYLINE: It takes months for most crops to grow, and farmers are used to waiting. But many farmers and ranchers say they've waited too long for a comprehensive farm bill and are fed up with Congress.ALFRED BRANDT: Not surprised, butFarmers Frustrated By Farm Bill Extensionhttp://kmuw.org/post/farmers-frustrated-farm-bill-extension
10688 as http://kmuw.orgThu, 03 Jan 2013 10:30:00 +0000Farmers Frustrated By Farm Bill Extension